Memorandum apparatus



June 25, 1929. w. w. BOINNELL 1. 1

MEMORANDUM APPARATUS Filed Feb 1, 1928 FIEILE Patented June 25, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

W'ILLIAM W. BONNELL, OF BELLEVUE, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO JOSEPH O. LADD, OF AMBRIDGE, PENNSYLVANIA.

MEMORANDUM APPARATUS.

Application filed February More particularly my present invention relates to the type of memorandum apparatus which comprises a platform having a roll of strip paper rotatably mounted at one end and the paper led down over the platform; and it consists in improvements in the structure thereof.

hus I provide improved means for mounting the roll of paper.

Again I provide improved means for keeping the unrolled portion of the paper for its entire length fiat and taut on the platform so that its entire length may be written upon.

Again I provide improved means for tearing off the portion of the paper which has been drawn off the platform, as after use for otting down memoranda.

, Other novel features of construction, ant also of arrangement, of parts will appear from the following description.

In the accompanying drawings, wherein I have illustrated the best embodiment of the principles of my invention now known to me, Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the memorandum device; Fig. 2 a plan view of the same; Fig. 3 a cross-sectional View taken along the line 33 in Fig. 2, and Fig. 4 a detail in enlarged section showing the method of attaching the roll support to the platform.

Referring to the drawings, 1 represents a flat platform which may be pressed of sheet metal having adepending perimetral flange 2 to stiffen the metal and extensions of said flange at the corners to form the feet 3. At one end the platform may be provided with a hole so that the device may be sus pended from a nail or hook inserted into a wall.

Near one end, the end which is provided with the hole 4, is mounted the roll 5 formed of a strip of paper 6. The roll is so mounted that the accidental or excessive unwinding of the paper is prevented by friction between the perimetral surface of the roll and the platform and. the unwound length of paper is caused to lie flat on the platform 1.

Thus the roll is supported by a frame which may be produced by bending up a narrow strip of metal form a base 7 and two parallel legs 8. The base is provided with two spaced apart holes 9 punched therein and through these holes extend the 1, 1928. Serial No. 251,043.

bent tongues 10 cut from the metal of the platform 1, said tongues having their free ends extending toward the adjacent end of the platform and bent down toward the platform. Thus the frame is swingingly supported on the platform and will tip over toward the other end of the platform. Near their free ends the legs 8 have holes 11 punched therein, the metal being flanged inwardly to form short journals 12 which fit into the ends of the usual wooden or card board tube 13 on which the paper is wound to form the roll 5. There is enough resiliency in the arms to prevent the roll from too freely rotating on its mounting, thus avoiding the formation of slack in the strip of paper extended on the platform.

The unwound portion of the paper 6 is led down over and in fiat contact with the platform 1 and under a Hat keeper or cross bar 14 which is formed by punching and pressing up the material of the platform. The metal at the ends of said keeper 14 is cut in arcuate form, and pressed downwardly to form convex surfaces 15 with which the side edges of the paper 6 are in contact, the said surfaces preferably curving inwardly sufficiently to press inwardly the side edges of the paper and thus retard the movement of the latter and prevent accidental slipping.

As the adjacent end of the platform 1, the metal is cut transversely and pressed upwardly to form the flat over-guard 16 under which the paper 6 extends and integrally with said over-guard and preferably bent upwardly, as shown in Fig. 1 is the cutterbar 17 which has a straight knife-edge 18.

WVhen a portion of the paper is unwound and led over the platform 1 and under the 9 keeper 14 and the over-guard 16, the rollframe tips toward the keeper 14: until the perimetral surface of the roll of paper 5 rests on the platform 1, the roll being mounted so that the paper is drawn from beneath the same, as shown in Fig. 1.

Thus the paper is positioned flat on the platform 1 for its unwound length and thus the full exposed length may conveniently be written on. Also the tension between the perimetral surface of the roll and the platform prevents the roll from spinning when a fresh length of paper is unwound. This is also aided by the resilient engagement of the legs 8 with the core of the roll. Again the engagement of the arcuate flanges of the keeper 1% With the edges of the paper aids in keeping the unwound paper flat and taut on the platform. When it is desired to remove a used portion of the paper, the free end thereof under the knife 17 is pulled until the used paper has passed off the platform and fresh paper is exposed thereon, and the used paper is then sharply pulled upwardly and laterally against the knifeedge 18 which will cause it to tear straight across, the stub end remaining free under the knife 17 so that it may be readily seized when it is desired to pull off another length of paper.

The apparatus is inexpensive to manufacture and very convenient for use for memo randum purposes.

\Vhat I desire to claim is 1. In a memorandum apparatus of the character described, the combination with a flat platform and means adjacent to one end of the platform for rotatably supporting a roll of paper, of a fiat keeper adjacent to the other end of said platform and elevated relative thereto topermit the paper to extend beneath the keeper, and arcuate projections engaging the lateral edges of said paper.

2. In a memorandum apparatus of the character described, the combination With a flat platform and means adjacent to one end of the platform for rotatably supporting a roll of paper, of a flat keeper adjacent to the other end of said platform and elevated relative thereto to permit the paper to extend beneath the keeper, and arcuate projections at the ends of said keeper.

3. In a memorandum apparatus of the character described, the combination of a flat platform formed of sheet metal, the material'of the platform being cut transversely and struck up to provide a keeper adjacent to one end of the platform, and means for rotatably supporting a roll of paper adjacent to the other end of the platform, the unrolled portion of the paper being led over the platform and beneath said keeper, and the metal being pressed inwardly at the ends of the keeper to engage the lateral edges of the paper.

4. In a memorandum apparatus of the character described, the combination of a flat platform formed of sheet metal, the material of the platform being cut transversely and struck up to provide a keeper adjacent to one end of the platform, and means for rotatably supporting a roll of paper adjacent to the other end of the platform, the unrolled portion of the paper being led over the platform and beneath said keeper, and the metal being pressed inwardly at the ends of the keeper to form arcuate abutments Which engage the lateral edges of the paper.

Signed at Pittsburgh, Pa, this 27th day of January, 1928.

WILLIAM W. BONNELL. 

